'Williamson is not the problem'

Apr 10, 2013

ONE area where most stakeholders seem to agree is the fact that much as Williamson couldn't lift the Cranes to the next level, there are structural problems

By James Bakama

THE sacking of Cranes coach Bobby Williamson has triggered off a myriad of views about what exactly is the problem with Uganda’s football.

One area where most stakeholders seem to agree is the fact that much as Williamson couldn’t lift the Cranes to the next level, there are structural problems in the industry that need to be urgently addressed.

Need for grassroots structures like youth development schemes, government funding for the national team and adequate national team preparation are some of the issues that need to be addressed.

The last Cranes game where Uganda lost 2-0 to Liberia is a classic example. The Cranes trained for barely three days before making the trip to West Africa.

But much as there is a general call for a paradigm shift in the manner in which football is managed, Williamson has also not been spared. His tactics have been questioned and most stakeholders believe that his departure was long overdue.

On Monday a FUFA meeting chaired by Lawrence Mulindwa decided that it was time to part ways with Williamson. Williamson’s main obstacle was Uganda’s failure to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations.

New Vision Sport carried out a survey on opinions about the sacking. Find out what the sport’s stakeholders have to say about the decision.

NESTROY KIZITO (Ex-international and Victoria FC player)

“Bobby was a good coach. He should have been given more time. Can you imagine that for the Liberia game he only had three days to prepare a team. We were actually lucky to have lost by only two goals. I foresaw that loss. How do you also expect results from a person operating in a country with two leagues? 

National teams everywhere have their foundations in local leagues. Of course like all coaches Bobby also had his weaknesses, but that is not the main issue. There remains a bigger problem.

FRED KAJOBA (Bobby’s goalkeeper trainer)

“Bobby was good at handling players. He was always on the players’ side. Our fortunes in future will depend on the calibre of the replacement. 

But like any coach, Bobby had weaknesses. He never consulted his assistants. In fact it was a crime to advise him.

At one time I remember him abusing and almost roughing up Moses Basena in Dar es Salaam. If even the likes of Alex Ferguson can consult, what about Bobby? But even with such shortcomings, there is a bigger problem. For instance there is no reason the national team is funded by FUFA president Lawrence Mulindwa.

National teams world over are state property. If we are to advance, government should seriously get into sports.

As for me, I am a professional who is ready to serve with whoever is recruited.”

AGGREY KIBENGE (Under Secretary Finance/ Administration, Office of the Prime Minister)

“FUFA might be justified in sacking Williamson for failure to meet certain targets. But I think it is also time we asked ourselves under what circumstances he failed to achieve these targets.

Of course our desire has always been to get to the next level for instance the Africa Cup of Nations. But the sacking may not bring the desired results.

Bobby’s performance on the field of play can best be explained by looking at the bigger picture. For instance, how well do we prepare? If perennially there are no resources to tap talent and there is no planning just like there isn’t adequate training, you can’t expect much. 

So it doesn’t excite me that Bobby has been sacked. The new coach can only bring new enthusiasm which maybe Bobby had lost. But over time the vicious cycle is bound to continue. 

Even the next coach is bound to go the same way.”

ERA MUGISA (FUFA President 1975-7)

“The problem in our sports is much bigger than just coaches. But even then, I was never impressed by Bobby. Not only did he lack the personality, but his coaching was also questionable.

That aside, I feel FUFA also exhibited bad manners in the way they handled the sacking. The same federation that had all along showered Bobby with praises, suddenly turned around. A more professional way would have been not to renew his contract  in 2011. But well, that’s how the gentlemen in charge of FUFA today behave.”

JACKSON SSEWANYANA “Uncle Money” (Cranes cheer leader)

“Sacking Bobby might not be the solution. I am of the view that he was judged harshly.

The main problem is that he was never given enough time to prepare.

For instance look at the most recent match against Liberia. The team prepared for only three days.

Surely you can’t do much with that kind of preparation.”

TOM LWANGA (ex-international and coach)

“The sacking came as no surprise. Bobby had failed on the set targets. Even if it was me, I would have conceded. In his last game against Liberia, he was very unprofessional.

He fielded unfit players. There were also foreign based players whose records he didn’t have but went on to field.

Some of these were actually not even playing in their clubs. But the atmosphere he has been operating in has also not been very conducive.

There are wrangles where warring factions each want to own the game.”

JACKSON MAYANJA (Cranes assistant coach)

“Bobby did his best. Yes, he failed to get the AFCON but also remember that he won a record four CECAFA titles. As for the way forward, I want to correct the view that a local coach can’t take over. In such situations the principle of continuity best applies.

Remember that even if a new coach came in, it will be coaches like us who have been around that he will have to consult.

And remember he will be starting from scratch. Who else can be a better replacement than someone who has been around like me. I have the personality, experience and qualifications to handle the Cranes.

Ethiopia, Malawi and Sudan are some classic examples of countries where assistant coaches have taken over and lifted these national teams to the AFCON.”

KENNEDY MUTENYO (Youth football promoter)

“My honest opinion is that Bobby’s sacking won’t change much unless there is a paradigm shift in the way sports is managed in Uganda.

The sacking was just a small part of a much bigger problem. As things stand in Uganda today even if you brought Brazil’s World Cup winning coach Carlos Alberto Perreira, he wouldn’t achieve much.

There should be a change from the casual way we operate. There is need to have the right structures in place. For starters, there is an urgent need to have an all —inclusive approach.

Structures will ensure that football is developed from the bottom to the top. Not the reverse. 

Uganda has vast talent. This is exhibited by our triumphs on the world stage in U-14 and below competitions.”

LIVINGSTONE KYAMBADDE (FUFA Vice President-Technical)

“Bobby’s sacking is the federation’s start in solving a problem. True, change can be painful.

But leadership involves changes. As a federation we have done everything in a bid to succeed.

We gave Bobby almost everything he needed. Maybe our only constraint has been money. I assure Ugandans that the replacement will be better not only in qualifications, but also personality.

We shall take on someone who can take us to the next level.”

FRED MUWEMA (Vice chairman Uganda Super League)

“The sacking of Bobby Williamson does not call for celebration as this will not change the fortunes of the Uganda Cranes.

No doubt Bobby overstayed his welcome at the job but it was the blurred vision of his handlers that is the real problem.

There is a direct relationship between the failures of the Cranes and the failures of the football administration in the country.

The Cranes is a mirror of the National and grassroots football leagues that are supposed to feed it with new talent. 

Lawrence Mulindwa has done his best to destroy the National football league with his egoistic confrontation with sponsors and anyone who wants to make a contribution.”

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